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I really love Catavino – it’s such an informative and innovative source of information on Spanish & Portuguese wines. The food of the region is key, but it’s just as vital to know about the great wines available too. This is the place to find out!

Horchata: Spain’s Non-Alcoholic Answer to Summer

Spanish lore is replete with anecdotes of the origin of horchata. Probably the most popular describes a young woman from L’Horta in Valencia who offered King Jaume I a white, sweet drink. The King was very pleased and asked the young woman, “¿Qué es això?” (“What is this?”) She answered, “Es llet de xufa” (“It is tigernut milk”). The King replied, “¡Això no es llet, això és or, xata!” [“This is not milk; this is gold (‘or’), pretty girl (‘xata’)!] Regardless of the origin, I am thankful someone thought of it!

Orxata de chufa (as it is known in Spain) is made from tigernuts, water, and sugar and is an indispensable part of the Mediterranean diet due, in part, to its many health benefits. Originating in Valencia, horchata comes from the time when Muslims occupied Valencia (from the 8th to the 13th century). History also validates ancient Persian and Arabic writers mentioning the digestive benefits and use of horchata as a medicinal, energy drink. Served ice cold as a summer refreshment, horchata is also known to cut the burning sensation associated with spicy foods. It is also used in place of milk for the lactose intolerant.

To ensure the quality of the product it also has a regulating council (Denominación de Origén). The tigernut (chufa) is cultivated in 16 Valencian towns in the L’Horta Nord area. Approximately 5.3 million kg of chufas are produced here, 90% of which are covered by the denomination of origin. An extensive process guides the tigernuts from the ground to the bag where they will be sold – much of this process is done by hand.

Horchata is not only popular in Spain but has found its way to numerous Latin American countries. Usually tan and “milky,” some recipes actual call for milk (but not the traditional Spanish orxata de chufa). Others call for adding sugar, cinnamon, and/or vanilla. Varying countries use varying ingredients. Mexican horchata is made of rice, sometimes using vanilla and always using cinnamon. In El Salvador they use morro seeds; Nicaragua and Honduras both use jicaro seeds ground with rice and spices. Puerto Rico and Cuba make horchata with sesame seeds and either milk or water. In my humble (yet incredibly biased) opinion, nothing tops the taste of authentic Spanish horchata.

One of my favorite traveling TV foodies, Andrew Zimmern, tried horchata while in Barcelona. Disgusted at the taste he stated, “It tastes like soy milk that’s been seasoned with that stomach medicine your mom made you take when you were a kid. It’s got the drawbacks of both and the benefits of neither…” Don’t believe a word of it! I will never forget my visit to Valencia a few years ago where I sat in the plaza outside an Horchateria with a glass of genuine orxata de chufa. ¡Delicioso! Later that trip I (on multiple occasions) had horchata from the street vendors and it was also a treat never to forget. Who said Andrew Zimmern’s palate is perfect?!

So, where can one find chufa nuts? I recently ran across a site (www.tienda.com) selling dried chufa nuts in a 1 kg bag. Are they worth the cost and effort to seek out? Absolutely! One could probably locate a ready-to-drink version, but why when you can make it from scratch? Here is the basic recipe (attached to the bag I received):

Recipe 1

Ingredients:

1.5 cups dried chufa nuts

1 quart water with a cinnamon stick (optional)

½ cup sugar (more if you have a heavy sweet tooth)

Instructions:

Soak chufa nuts in water for 24 hours with the cinnamon stick;

Put all ingredients (nuts, water, sugar) in a blender and blend until smooth (30-60 seconds);

Are you looking for an alternative to a tasty white wine on a hot afternoon (or morning)? If so, why not try orxata de chufa? Who knows, maybe you might be the next one exclaiming, “és or, xata!” ¡Buen Provecho!

I’m a great fan of horchata as well (as it is called in Andalucía). I’ve come across it in Mexico, based as you say on rice, also in France (!) as ‘orgeat’ (I’m now reading that Wiki says it doesn’t have much to do with horchata) and in Greece as ‘soumada’.

Rick Fisher

Rick physically resides in San Diego, CA, but his heart and soul live amongst the people of Spain. Born in 1966 to a Cuban mother and American father Rick's passion for all things Spanish finds its roots in his heritage – which actually traces back to royalty in Cataluña. By profession, Rick is a Sr. Banker with Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, but his true passion lies in educating people about the amazing food and wines of Spain. He recently completed his Master of Business Administration as well as his Spanish Wine Educator Certification. Rick has lived in Madrid and travels to Spain regularly; but he ultimately desires to live and work in Spain full-time. Rick also authors Bodega: Adventures in Spanish Food & Wine, a site devoted to educating others on the gastronomic treasures to be had in Spain. Rick also maintains and writes the blog Bodega Spanish Wine

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Catavino evolved from the wanderings of an American couple who craved a radical change in perspective.In 2005 they quit their jobs, moved to Spain and dug deep into the local gastronomy. As time passed, they expanded their focus to include Portugal, whereby sharing the heart and soul of Iberian food, wine and culture. We invite you to follow our adventures via our blog or, for those who'd like to experience Spanish and Portuguese gastronomy themselves, we'd like to offer you our firsthand tips on travel and our expertise in organizing food and wine tasting tours.